101 Hymn Stories
Overview
This is an inspiring collection of the stories behind your favorite hymns. The exciting events that motivated these hymns are brought to life in inspiring detail. Some of the well-known hymns included are: "A Mighty Fortress," "Fairest Lord Jesus," "How Great Thou Art," "Jesus Loves Me," "Silent Night," and "Amazing Grace."
This collection of the uplifting, informative stories behind your favorite hymns will warm your heart and revitalize your worship. Knowing who wrote the words, what occasion prompted the writing, and how the music was composed that carries the words on the melody and rhythm of song makes these beautiful hymns a more vital spiritual force in our lives. Learning the circumstances around which hymns have been written enables us to love them more. By loving them more, we sing them better—bringing greater joy and blessing to all who need the message of the Gospel in song.
In 101 Hymn Stories, Professor Kenneth W. Osbeck, eminent church music authority, presents real-life stories surrounding selected favorite hymns, their authorship, and composition. Not only will the fascinating field of hymn lore offer profitable research and study, but it will also aid in an adequate and worthy use of the hymnal. Enrich your personal devotions and your congregation’s worship with the better understanding and appreciation of our musical heritage found in this book.
- Information about all authors and composers
- Data on the tune name and meter
- Scriptural references listed for each hymns, with links to your preferred translation
- Illustrations
- Selected bibliography for further reading and research in the field of hymnology
- A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
- Abide with Me
- All Creatures of Our God and King
- All Hail the Power
- All the Way My Savior Leads Me
- Amazing Grace
- Angels from the Realms of Glory
- Battle Hymn of the Republic
- Be still My Soul
- Beneath the Cross of Jesus
- Blessed Assurance
- Blest be the Tie That Binds
- Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
- Come, Thou Almighty King
- Come, Thou Fount
- Count Your Blessings
- Day by Day
- Day is Dying in the West
- Deeper and Deeper
- Doxology
- Fairest Lord Jesus
- Faith of Our Fathers
- For the Beauty of the Earth
- From Every Stormy Wind That Blows
- From Greenland’s Icy Mountains
- Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
- Great Is Thy Faithfulness
- He Leadeth Me
- Hiding in Thee
- Hold the Fort
- Holy, Holy, Holy
- How Firm a Foundation
- How Great Thou Art
- I Gave My Life for Thee
- I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
- I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord
- I Love to Tell the Story
- I Sing the Mighty Power of God
- I Will Sing the Wondrous Story
- I’ll Stand By Until the Morning
- In Christ There Is No East or West
- In the Cross of Christ I Glory
- In the Garden
- It Is Well with My Soul
- Jesus, Lover of My Soul
- Jesus Loves Even Me
- Jesus Loves Me
- Jesus Shall Reign
- Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee
- Jesus, They Blood and Righteousness
- Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
- Just As I Am
- Lead, Kindly Light
- Lead On, O King Eternal
- Look, Ye Saints! The Sight Is Glorious
- Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned
- May Jesus Christ Be Praised
- My Country, ’Tis of Thee
- My Redeemer
- My Savior First of All
- Nearer, My God, to Thee
- Now Thank We All Our God
- Now the Day Is Over
- O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
- O For a Thousand Tongues
- O God, Our Help in Ages Past
- O Little Town of Bethlehem
- O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go
- O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee
- O That Will Be Glory
- O Word of God Incarnate
- O Worship the King
- Onward Christian Soldiers
- Peace, Perfect Peace
- Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty
- Rescue the Perishing
- Ring the Bells of Heaven
- Rock of Ages
- Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name
- Silent Night! Holy Night!
- Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above
- So Send I You
- Softly and Tenderly
- Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart
- Sun of My Soul
- Stand Up for Jesus
- Take My Life and Let It Be
- The Church’s One Foundation
- The Day of Resurrection
- The God of Abraham Praise
- The Ninety and Nine
- The Old Rugged Cross
- The Sands of Time Are Sinking
- The Star-Spangled Banner
- There Is a Fountain
- There Is a Green Hill Far Away
- This Is My Father’s World
- Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne
- What a Friend We Have in Jesus
- When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
- While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Top Highlights
“My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: ‘That I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior!’ ’” (Page 30)
“‘John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and Libertine, a servant of slavers in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the Faith he had long labored to destroy.’” (Page 28)
“It was he who coined the phrase, ‘It is better to wear out than to rust out” (Page 17)
“For the last sermon with his poor parishioners on September 4, 1847, it is recorded that Lyte nearly had to crawl to the pulpit and his message came as from a dying man. His final words made a deep impact upon his people when he said that it was his desire to ‘induce you to prepare for the solemn hour which must come to all by a timely appreciation and dependence on the death of Christ.’” (Page 17)
“Fanny Crosby wrote more than 8,000 gospel song texts in her lifetime. Her hymns have been and are still being sung more frequently than those of any other gospel hymn writer.” (Page 43)
101 Hymn Stories is the kind of fascinating book that is enjoyable for general reading or reference.
—Christian Life
This book is a valuable source of illustrations for pastors and teachers, and it provides a wealth of background information for song leaders. It should be introduced to all Christians as a personal and family devotional book.
—Bookstore News
This book should be on the shelf of every pastor and song leader. A pastor will find a treasure house of illustrations. No pastor should leave home without it.
—The Christian Librarian
- Title: 101 Hymn Stories
- Author: Kenneth W. Osbeck
- Publisher: Kregel
- Print Publication Date: 1982
- Logos Release Date: 2001
- Pages: 288
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Hymns, English › History and criticism
- ISBNs: 9780825434167, 0825434165
- Resource ID: LLS:39.20.4
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-28T20:12:57Z
Reviews
9 ratings
Thomas Madden
9/29/2023
Five star for the printed editions. Three stars for the Logos editions which are missing most of the words to the hymns and none of the music that the printed editions contain. It would be really great to be able to print the hymns that I would be using. I have enjoyed using the printed editions of both "101 Hymn Stories" and "101 More Hymn Stories".Thomas SImmons
4/28/2019
For me as a pastor, I love to have the information so that I can share background and meaning on hymns with the congregation. This resource gives me help in being able to do that; and, I appear to know what I am talking about. Win, win!
Gerald Klimczak
4/24/2019
Debra W Bouey
7/7/2018
David McAllister
5/19/2018
Glenn Crouch
8/2/2016
This has been a useful addition to my daily devotional time - and I encountered many hymns and authors / composers that I were unaware of - and for that I am thankful. However, I did find the prose to often be a little too factual. By that I mean that the Author seems to aim more at sharing with the reader information about the Hymn / Writer / Music Composer rather than the passions that were involved. Thus making many of the articles a bit dry I think - but that is probably just my taste. I did find "Near to the heart of God: meditations on 366 best-loved hymns" by Morgan https://vyrso.com/product/13603/near-to-the-heart-of-god-meditations-on-366-best-loved-hymns to be a far better devotional book. This book is a good reference book, as knowing the background of our hymns is worthwhile for all Christians.
James Chin
2/4/2016
Denver Race
11/15/2014
Robert Leahy
5/28/2014
